Internet Explorer 7 (IE7) is the latest next generation graphical web browser from Microsoft for Microsoft Windows series of operating system. IE7 features enhanced security framework, protection against phishing, deceptive or malicious software, full user control of ActiveX, various bug fixes, enhancements to support the web standards, improvements in HTML 4.01/CSS 2, tabbed browsing, tabs preview, tabs management, and web RSS feeds reader. Windows users can download Internet Explorer 7 directly from Microsoft Download Center, and Microsoft will roll out IE7 via Automatic Updates as High Priority Updates (learn how to block and prevent automatic download and installation of IE7).
LAPTOP Magazine (dead link) reviews Internet Explorer 7 and also compares IE with Firefox, and comes to conclusion with rating of 4 out 5 that “in the grand battle between Firefox and IE, we think that IE has a bit of an edge in this release, although the Firefox 2 betas we have seen will catch it up a bit. Many of the things we like about Firefox have been implemented in IE7 and have been polished to be more streamlined and useful. For those of us who spend a lot of time researching and working on the Web, IE7 represents the best and most aggressive IE upgrade we’ve seen in a while.”
Windows IT Pro (dead link) concludes that “Firefox 2.0 is free, but it’s a woefully minor improvement over Firefox 1.5 that suffers from various incompatibility problems, especially with themes and other add-ons. I wouldn’t recommend this new version, to be honest. I’ll be sticking with Firefox 1.5 at least for now. I recommend you do the same, or switch to the surprisingly solid IE 7.0.”
vnunet (dead link) reviews Microsoft Internet Explorer 7 browser and concludes with rating of 4 out of 5 that Internet Explorer 7 goes a long way to prove that Microsoft has been listening to its customers. The browser is not perfect, but it has come on in leaps and bounds. The new features may even be enough to sway some Firefox users back into the Microsoft camp. Internet Explorer 7 is a definite improvement over Internet Explorer 6, making it an essential upgrade for users of Microsoft’s web browser.
Digit reviews IE7 and concludes that for satisfied Firefox 1.5 users, moving to version 2 is a no-brainer, as they’ll get new features and won’t be thrown off by major interface changes. Confirmed IE users have a similarly easy choice: IE 7’s features make it a much better browser than 6.x, and its security enhancements alone make it a must-have. Of the two rivals, Firefox remains the better application. Since IE users will have to adjust to a new layout and interface anyway, this might be a good time to give Firefox a try, then watch IE 8 play catch-up again in five years.
PC Magazine concludes with good rating of 3.5 out of 5 that you won’t find any Earth-shaking new features or technology here, but you will find a stable browser (for the most part) that’s a whole lot more secure than its predecessor. One Word: Upgrade. IE7 is good for built-in, if rudimentary RSS feed reader that should finally introduce the technology to the masses, tabbed browsing, integrated anti-phishing filter and other security features. Although a let down in page-rendering issues remain here and there, sporadic reports of failures and other problems with installation.
The Mercury News (dead link) reviews and compares IE7 with Firefox 2.0 and Opera 9, and concludes that “Microsoft has a few unique features, including the display of small, thumbnail versions of all open pages at once. It catches up with Opera and Firefox in letting you save related tabs in groups to reopen at once. But IE7 lacks Firefox’s and Opera’s ability to reopen a tab you’ve accidentally closed. There are things to like about each browser, and I recommend that IE users at least upgrade to version 7. They may find features to like in Firefox or Opera, but the gap is much narrower now, so IE7 may be satisfactory. I’ll stick with Firefox, however, because IE7 and Opera 9 don’t offer enough novel features to break inertia. Firefox 2’s improvements are minor but show that its developers aren’t resting and waiting five years for the next breakthrough.”
Canadian News (dead link) concludes that “there are things to like about each browser, and I recommend that IE users at least upgrade to version 7. They may find features to like in Firefox or Opera, but the gap is much narrower now, so IE7 may be satisfactory. I’ll stick with Firefox, however, because IE7 and Opera 9 don’t offer enough novel features to break inertia. Firefox 2’s improvements are minor but show that its developers aren’t resting and waiting five years for the next breakthrough.”
LK is a technology writer for Tech Journey with background of system and network administrator. He has be documenting his experiences in digital and technology world for over 15 years.Connect with LK through Tech Journey on Facebook, Twitter or Google+.
